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Lets discuss Making a homemade "VPS"

  • Post #1
  • Quote
  • First Post: Edited Nov 11, 2011 8:26am Nov 10, 2011 4:15am | Edited Nov 11, 2011 8:26am
Hi guys,

With broker accounts in various places it suddenly dawned on me that for my non latency dependant strategies it would be cheaper to setup a "home VPS". I also do not trust VPS companies if I'm honest.

I'm hoping we can start a serious discussion about this as I'm sure I'm not the only one....

1) Connectivity

I live in the UK and am connected via ADSL, nice 18mb connection but what if it goes down?. I have a mobile USB dongle as backup. How do I tell windows server 2003 to switch to the dongle if it detects the ADSL is down? What software do I need?

2) Choosing a Box, laptop, netbook etc.

Here is one candidate, a low power consumption fanless PC. It has dual core cpu, dual channel corsair ram, 1mb l2 cache.
http://www.aleutia.com/products/t2-d...s-mini-atom-pc

3) Redundancy

If MT4 crashes for whatever reason how do I tell it to restart, I'll be running multiple MT4's so how do I get it to restart the right MT4?

How do I tell MT4 to restart if it hasn't been connected to the brokers server for X amount of time?

4) Running costs

There's no denying, the cost of electricity is expensive here in the UK. To run a standard desktop PC would cost around £30 per month in electricity, we're also due some majour price hikes next year aswell. Would switching to a laptop save eleccy? Does a lower wattage rating mean less electricity used?

5) Alerts

I'd like to be alerted via SMS or email about major events, i.e. connection goes down, MT4 crashes, etc. What software do I need?

6) Operating System

All good VPS's tend to use Windows Server 2003. I'm guessing this is because it's the fastest, most stable.

7) Execution

Despite what VPS companies tell you, whenever I've used my home PC my trades seem to be executed fine, I get all the processor power as opposed to sharing it with others on a VPS. If pings are low to the brokers servers then I should get better execution than using a vps?

8) Power failure

What's the cheapest UPS you can get? Post links for US, Europe and UK.
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Quoting leerees
Hi guys,

With broker accounts in various places it suddenly dawned on me that for my non latency dependant strategies it would be cheaper to setup a "home VPS". I also do not trust VPS companies if I'm honest.

I'm hoping we can start a serious discussion about this as I'm sure I'm not the only one....

1) Connectivity

I live in the UK and am connected via ADSL, nice 18mb connection but what if it goes down?. I have a mobile USB dongle as backup. How do I tell windows server 2003 to switch to the dongle if it detects the ADSL is down?...
For all those reasons, plus 1 =

7) Power Failure

.......... are why it is so much easier just to use a VPS; why don't you trust them? Previous experience? Do you think they are watching your trades and will make millions?
If you trade like me, you'll be homeless and broke within a week.
TEXAS-2-STEP All Time Return: 17.4%
I should note that I have my own little private datacenter (closet).

 

  1. I would do this at the router level, not at the computer level. Look for network loadbalancers.
  2. I have MT4 using a heartbeat to a monitoring server. Simply put, if the monitoring server doesn't hear a heartbeat from one of the metatrader terminals, it reboots the computer. The metatrader terminals are set up in the computer so that they automatically start once windows loads.
  3. Depends on the computing needs of your EA(s). There are significantly lower-power computers you can build using mini-itx boards. Intel makes a good number of sturdy reliable boards. Another alternative is using something called a thin client. (HP t5730 for example). It's consumes ~20 watts of power and has moderate computing power for your needs.
  4. A monitoring one, written in the language of choice. I use LAMP technologies as it's fairly easy to learn, and plenty of code examples to manipulate.
  5. I use XPEmbedded, or windows standard edition 2009 or windows standard 7. No point having a full computer when a thin client-based OS will suffice.
  6. Depends on the broker's servers. During low liquidity, it's damn near impossible to get a fill. Wouldn't make a difference if you were on a VPS or not. (Side note: EAs that try to make money in the sub-10 second space will ultimately fail because of infrastructure limitations).
  7. I have another datacenter (closet) located at a friend's house on the other side of the country. I pay them rent for the closet, electricity, and internet connections. If one datacenter does not see the other datacenter, it closes all trades and shuts down operations, then sends me a text message.

Hi Ronald,

Like your redundancy data center, that's cool. I also like the idea of a thin client but it sounds very expensive!!

So how about instead buying a netbook and reloading it with windows server, if you did that you already have a built in "UPS"
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Not sure of the prices in the UK, but thin clients can be bought on Ebay for <$150.

As for netbooks, they are questionable at best. I never liked using them.
Another alternative is to wait the for raspberry pi to come out. $35 computer (version B with networking) and needs something like 3 watts.
Quoting Ronald Raygun
Another alternative is to wait the for raspberry pi to come out. $35 computer (version B with networking) and needs something like 3 watts.
Doesn't support WINE or windows so no way to run MT4. :-(

How about this:

http://www.aleutia.com/products/t2-d...s-mini-atom-pc

Bit pricey but it's duel core, as I'll be running multiple instances of MT4 I could split the load evenly between cores.

Also, how does the MT4 heartbeat service work, would you be willing to post the required files to the forum?
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I would focus on more RAM than a faster CPU.
You CAN run MT4 on ANY ARM-based device)) Really. Here is the guide on istallation MT on Raspebrry Pi (Raspbian), but you can implement this tutorial to any device alike - https://eltechs.com/metatrader-4-on-raspberry-pi/
Quoting magobiz
You CAN run MT4 on ANY ARM-based device)) Really. Here is the guide on istallation MT on Raspebrry Pi (Raspbian), but you can implement this tutorial to any device alike - https://eltechs.com/metatrader-4-on-raspberry-pi/
agreed! THX MAN
Actually i just setup my RP VPS with MT4, works awful. Pretty luggy even with 1 chart with no indicators. I got RP3 and tested locally and globally, one time it's been crashed since i tweak some settings. As i assumed since the beginning weak hw + VM at the application level(exagear) + adopt layer(wine) = sh.t!! I don't know guys how you managing trades with such unreliable setup, if you considering that seriously then rent some good VPS for 30$ a month!
Compliments R R
Very smart sensible and practical solution
Hope it is working well for you
Hello fellow traders,

My best insight for a homemade VPS (forex or not for that matter) is a teeny tiny PC, with the modem, altogether power protected on an UPS.
Regarding such PCs, they are going very small lately. Compute sticks are incredibly small but there also are mini PCs. Compute sticks usually work on 5V DC power supply if I am not wrong for which
The UPS must protect both of us so that no matter what happens with the mains, you will always have an operating PC and the internet connection will work at least on your side.
The modem can be a classical wired modem (fiber or cable) or a 3G modem (with a SIM card). This last solution allows you to lower the risks of losing the connection considering that there will most certainly be an operational BTS that lets you communicate with the server. This requires that you accept to work with a latency greater than 20ms so not with a HFT strategy.

Unfortunately, you have to put the price for it but compared to VPS actual costs you will probably win after one year. I am really considering this option actually. If I take it, I will probably create my own hardware : design a specific case, create a PCB to manage power supply to switch between charge mode and supply mode, etc...). It won't probably be complicated.
Quoting jmoreno
a homemade vps is basically a laptop. edit/update: if you want to make a homebrew backup power supply, i can definitely tell you how to do that.. get a decent car battery and a small 110 power inverter(assuming you live in a country that uses 110 volt power). you will need a 12 volt car battery charger, and just put it on a trickle charge.. if you want to build a bigger battery backup, just add additional car batteries that are all wired in parallel.
Well, if I am to create one, I will certainly prefer USB power bank to massive 12V car batteries. For the rest, the bit of electronics will do the trick. The circuit will have to switch between powering from battery and charging battery. Maybe I will add a little LED to inform that the system is powering from battery, a INA138 to measure the current consumed by the battery to get charged (to see whether it is charging, charged or powering). I could provide a schematics of how I intend to proceed but anyway, I will probably choose something more compact than a car battery.
Quoting leerees
I also do not trust VPS companies if I'm honest. I
I have a lot of experience with VPS.

First of all I agree with you not to trust VPS companies. I have one VPS provided for free by broker because of my trading activity. Then after few weeks of testings I have noticed that Administrator entered my VPS and was about 20 min on it!

I have found the best way to make my own VPS this way: just create ubuntu VPS with digitalocean. It will cost 20$/month. Then setup windows server on it and that's it. If you want to run a lot of EAs you can have 40$/month and it will be very fast and reliable. Windows VPS are much more expensive, about 100$ month. That's why that trick is much cheaper.

If to tal about home VPS you need to have UPS and a mobile operator to switch to it if you local internet connection will be down. Also you need to have some software to let you know that it was an issue and another software to route your internet from local to mobile. But I think it will be not cheaper than remote VPS.
Observer effect
Quoting ryuryu
I have a lot of experience with VPS. First of all I agree with you not to trust VPS companies. I have one VPS provided for free by broker because of my trading activity. Then after few weeks of testings I have noticed that Administrator entered my VPS and was about 20 min on it!
That's so sad! It is a real actual shame! That is why I also do not trust VPS providers and also because I don't know if they try to see your trading history and if it is damn good, they copy your EAs and indicators... or even if they empty your account by opening and closing right away orders for example. I know it is crazy but it is the worst aspect of it. The other issue is costs that can change from one month to the other and I have suffered this with Ionos.

Quoting ryuryu
I have found the best way to make my own VPS this way: just create ubuntu VPS with digitalocean. It will cost 20$/month. Then setup windows server on it and that's it. If you want to run a lot of EAs you can have 40$/month and it will be very fast and reliable. Windows VPS are much more expensive, about 100$ month. That's why that trick is much cheaper.
I don't get it. On one hand you say that you don't trust VPS providers, on the other hand, you are naming one. Is it trustworthy?

Quoting ryuryu
If to tal about home VPS you need to have UPS and a mobile operator to switch to it if you local internet connection will be down. Also you need to have some software to let you know that it was an issue and another software to route your internet from local to mobile.
In theory, that is the basic huge normal sized computer based VPS. I would have prefered a teeny tiny one and I guess it is still possible to create one.

Quoting ryuryu
But I think it will be not cheaper than remote VPS.
Actually, I guess it will. If you are considering that you subscribe to an ISP just for trading, you are probably right because you will pay the VPS subscription and no internet connection. You may also be right if you assume that you subscribe to a dedicated 3G internet connection just for the VPS in addition to broadband and your regular 3G.
  • Post #17
  • Quote
  • Edited 10:22am Mar 2, 2021 10:09am | Edited 10:22am
Quoting FXgenial
I don't get it. On one hand you say that you don't trust VPS providers, on the other hand, you are naming one. Is it trustworthy?
Digitalocean is linux based VPS provider. And running Windows on it in the virtual machine state is extremely safe. They even don't know what are you running on it. Also DO has excellent free firewall. So you can set access to your server only from certain ip/lans etc. I'm not advertising DO, may be it is possible to create the same environment with another linux based VPS providers. But I was using DO for years and then I was searching for good VPS I have discovered that it is possible to run windows server on it. After the accident with broker's friendly VPS I was using Amazon VPS, but it was more than 100$ per month and ugly firewall that I have not been able to configure it.
Observer effect
if you are going to use some kind of battery back up (UPS, uninterruptible power supply), it is much better to use a lower power consumption device like a netbook if possible instead of a more power hungry desktop..

i mentioned car batteries earlier where you can easily buy an inverter to convert 12volts to 110volts or you can buy an inverter to convert 12volt to 220volts, depending on which country you live in and depending on what voltage is your standard where you live..

on my boat, i have a homebrew generator that i put together which consists of a small approx five horsepower gas engine that is belted up to a small car alternator, which i can use to charge up my car batteries if the power is out or if i am offshore.. if you are trying to plan for all types of situations, then you should be prepared to be able to generate your own electricity in case of power outages, etc, and i want to tell you that this is a very nice option..

the nice thing about how i make a generator out of a small gas engine and a car alternator is that it is so easy to replace those two primary components.. but if you have a storebought generator, and something breaks, you gotta get parts that are made specifically for your generator.

with the gas engine and alternator, i just walk into the auto parts and ask for a two wire alternator and this way my car batteries think that they are under the hood of a car..

vrroooommm..
Quoting jmoreno
if you are going to use some kind of battery back up (UPS, uninterruptible power supply), it is much better to use a lower power consumption device like a netbook if possible instead of a more power hungry desktop.. i mentioned car batteries earlier where you can easily buy an inverter to convert 12volts to 110volts or you can buy an inverter to convert 12volt to 220volts, depending on which country you live in and depending on what voltage is your standard where you live.. on my boat, i have a homebrew generator that i put together which consists...
Great. Well, in your case, it is a boat so now I understand why you use such items in your specific cases. So you can also use a homemade VPS for your boat with a satellite connection.
Actually, I aim at very very low power consuming items to do the trick. Considering that I live in London (so, very close to many brokers' servers) and 3G/4G services are quite efficient, I think I can even skip the WiFi stuff and settle on the 3G USB dongle alone. Regarding the PC, nowadays, the microscopic compute sticks Win10 based are very powerful in terms of resources and can consume less than 10W. You can power them on any USB power supply with an output greater than 2A. It yields a very small form factor in addition to a very low power consumption (which is also great for the environment). It also allows you to have a better autonomy. For example, a 10 000mAh USB power bank can theoretically supply 2A for as much as 5hours. If the power consumption was 100W (5V,20A for the sake of simplicity), the expected autonomy should be half an hour.

If I am not wrong, you can still have your compute stick working even if you disconnect the HDMI output. So once the system is configured, you can leave it on. As far as I know, there are softwares to convert this simple computer into a plain VPS.

I am not sure that at this very hour, one can find compute sticks with SIM slot to avoid the complexity of extra HW.
  • Post #20
  • Quote
  • Last Post: Mar 15, 2021 2:39pm Mar 15, 2021 2:39pm
Well, I have bought a Mini PC Stick with 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC, Intel Atom 1.92GHz, WIFI and HDMI 4K, OS : Windows 10 Pro (64-bit).
It cost me £145. Considering the price of equivalent VPS for example at FXVM : £36/month, it means that this nice teeny tiny gadget is cheaper than more than 4 months of subscription. For the information, it is a little slow and laggy for which you won't run much more than office apps, internet, MT as well. Nevertheless, I wouldn't run a low latency based strategy.
Anyways, it works very well. It can be running by night and as long there is no fan, it is 0dB, HDMI, and both USB peripherals can be disconnected. I want to see now in the long term.
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